Clara M. (Dwinell) Lodi, 84 of Franklin, died April 6 in the Maples Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. She was the wife of the late Ruston F. Lodi, who died in 1985.
Born in Lowell, Mass, July 13, 1925, the daughter of the late Rolland and Theresa (Scullin) Dwinell, Mrs. Lodi was raised in Lowell and had lived in Franklin since 1949.
Mrs. Lodi was a graduate of Lowell High School, Salem Teachers College (Cum Laude) and received her Masters in Education from Boston University, graduating with honors. She was a member of the Pi Lambda Theta and Delta Pi Epsilon.
Mrs. Lodi had been the Executive Secretary of the Cooperative Study of Secondary School Standards from 1948-1950. She had taught business education at Franklin High School from 1949-1955. She returned to teaching in 1975 as a special education tutor and substitute teacher at Franklin High School.
Mrs. Lodi was active at St. Mary’s Church, where she was a Eucharistic Minister, served in the Health Ministry and RCIA program. Mrs. Lodi was also very active in the community and numerous charities.
She served on the Board of Directors of the Franklin Public Library and the Board of Directors of the Frances Eddy King Student Fund, Inc. She participated in Project Bread’s annual Walk for Hunger 25 times (the last time in 2008) and raised thousands of dollars for that charity. In 1999, she was named the Franklin Rotary Club’s Citizen of the Year.
Mrs. Lodi enjoyed reading, her family and attending Franklin High School sporting events, especially soccer and basketball.
She is survived by her children; Ruston F. Lodi Jr. of Newton, Andrea Pia Silbert of Sharon, Carlo Lodi of Douglas, Colonel Maria B. Barrett, U.S. Army of Alexandria, Virginia and Lt. Colonel Paula C. Lodi of Harker Heights, Texas.
She is also survived by her sister, Margaret J. Dwinell of Dorchester and her brother,Roland Dwinell of Boxford.
She is also survived by her grandchildren, Hannah Lodi, Rachel Lodi, Ruston F. Lodi III, Neal Silbert, Seth Silbert, Abigail Silbert, Mackenzie Vance and Meredith Vance.
Her funeral will be held on Friday, April 9 from the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin, 131 Main St. in Franklin at 11:15 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church at Noon.
Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Calling hours will be on Thursday from 4-8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the Frances Eddy King Fund, PO Box K, Franklin, MA 02038 or the Friends of the Franklin Library, 118 Main St., Franklin MA 02038.